Ravichandran Ashwin says dropping Kuldeep Yadav lacks common sense
Ashwin criticised the omission of Kuldeep Yadav from India's fourth T20I against the West Indies, saying the decision lacked common sense.
Ravichandran Ashwin criticised India's decision to omit Kuldeep Yadav from the fourth T20I against West Indies. Ashwin said the choice lacked common sense because West Indies batters have struggled to read the left-arm wrist-spinner's variations.
India lost the match in Hyderabad by 24 runs after the visitors posted 247 for three. Ashwin noted that Kuldeep's presence could have made a difference of 15 to 20 runs on a pitch offering bounce. He endorsed the earlier decision to leave Kuldeep out in Indore because of the small ground dimensions but rejected suggestions that the spinner's 1 for 53 in Ranchi caused India's defeat there.
The five-match series is now level at 2-2 ahead of the decider in Bengaluru. Kuldeep has taken 20 wickets against the West Indies in 11 T20Is at an average of 15.70.
CricHubb Take
The series decider in Bengaluru now becomes a test of whether the management reintroduces Kuldeep or doubles down on extra pace on a ground where his record of nine wickets in six matches suggests he could change the equation.